Machine for feeding sheets of paper, &amp;c.



B. F. UPHAIVI.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SHEETS OF PAPER,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. II, ISIS- Patented Sept. 12,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I II UN l IIII-IIIIII II II attozlgw B. F. UPHAM.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING SHEETS OF PAPER, &c. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11. 1916.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BURT r. erman; or nosron',massncnusnrrs 51);

MACHINE ron rnnnru e snnn'rs orrarnn,

Mamet/a.

, Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application fileii February 11, 1916. Serial No. 77,593. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURT UPHAM, a citizen of the United. States, zresiding at Boston, in the county ofSufiolk, 'and'State the separating rolls to the sheet manipulating mechanism, which means can be projected over the ordinary feed table of the press or machine, and can be retracted beneath the sheet feeding mechanism out of the way. 1

The invention is particularly designed for. use in connection with sheet printing presses provided with a feed table upon which a pile of sheets of paper may be placed and fed by hand to the impression cylinder; and the object of the present invention is to enable an automatic sheet feeding mechanism to be used in connection with such a machine, and located in such position that, when desired, the devices whichtransfer or direct a sheet from thefeeding devices to the cylinder may be projected across the table into operative position; or if desired may be retracted ofi' the table and under the feeding. mechanism out of the way; so that a pile of paper can be placed upon the table and fed to the press by hand in the usual 'manner when it is not desired to use the automatic feeder, or when the latter is out 1 of order; or when it may be desired to lift the hinged portion of the feed table to permit ready access to underlying parts of the press.

I will explain the inventionas embodied. in the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings to enable others to readily comprehend and use the same, and will summarize in the appended claims the novel features and combinations of. parts for which protection is desired. In said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the feeding mechanism showing the sheet transfer means in operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the transfer means in retracted inoperative-position. Fig.3 isan enlarged detail-sectional elevation ofthe operative parts indicated in Fig. 1, showing the transfer means in projected position in full lines; and in retraeted position in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a detail vertical section on line 44, Fig. 3. Figr5 is a detail section on the line 5-5,' Fig. 3. Fig. 6 1s an enlarged sectional elevation of part of the feeder, with the transfer mechanism in retracted position; and Fig. 7 is a, I

detail end elevation of Fig. 6.-

The press or sheet manipulating mechanism may be of any desired type. .1

In the drawings, .0 designates the: transfer reel or impression cylinder of an ordinary printing press; and T the feed table thereof, said table having a feed board B hinged thereto as usual, which. board is adapted, when in lowered position, to direct the sheets toward the cylinder and said board can be turned up, when-desired, to permit access to the cylinder, or underlying 'parts of the press, in the usual manner. The

board B may beprovided with the: usual fingers f by whlch the leading edge of a sheet is supported in positiontobe taken by the cylinder grippers g. Proper-sheet arresting stops and gages,- not shown, should be provided as usual, by which the leading edge. of the sheet is arrested and adjusted in proper position to be taken by the said grip= pers. All the aforesaid parts are or may be of well known construction and require no further explanation, Supported upon the rear end of the table T is the forward end of an automatic sheet separating and feeding mechanism which may be of any suitable. kind, and withwhieh my invention is employed. The operative parts of the sheetv feeding mechanism shown in the drawings may be mounted in a framecomposed' of inner sidecastings 1, supported upon the outer end of table T, and outer side castings I. supported onfsuitable uprights 1"; said; side castings 1,..1. being connected by side bars 19-. The opposite side castings and bars may be connectedrigidly together by any suitable transversetie members, in-the usual way, togetherformin a substantially rigidframe. Between the side bars 1 is a feed table l upon which 'apile of sheets S of paper or other material to be bars 1 which form tracks or guides for an adjustable sheet transfer means, which constitutes one embodiment of important features of the present invention.

The transfer means includes a frame which may be constructed in any suitable manner; and is shown as formed of side bars 2 connected at their outer ends to castings .2 and at their inner ends to castings or heads 2"; and the opposite side members may be connected by an'y suitable ties to form a substantially rigid frame.

The castings 2 are provided with journal bearings for the trunnions of a feed roll 2; and when theframe is in the position shown inFigrl the feed roll 2 lies adjacent the inner end of the feed table 1, and below and opposite a drop roll 3: Said drop roll 3 may be journaled in arms 3 attached to a rock shaft 3", to which is attached an arm 3 carrying a roller 3 adapted to engage a cam 3 on a shaft 3, which may be driven by any suitable means, (not shown), from the operative parts of the press or machine to which the feeder is connected, so that the roll 3 will be raised and lowered at the proper times to successively forward sheets of paper to and over the transfer frame in the well known manner. a

The transfer frame may be provided with any suitable means for supporting and directing sheetsover its surface, when in 0perative position, as hereinafter described. Asshown endless tapes'2 are arranged in the transfer frame, said tapes extending from the feed roll 2 to and overan idler tape roller 2 journaled in the register heads or castings 2 asindicated in the drawings.

When the transfer frame is in the position shown in Fig. 1 it can be secured rigidly in such position by means of'lock screws 1 tapped through openings in the side castings 1, and havlng their inner ends engaged with corresponding openings in the castings 2, see Fig. 5; and when so engaged the outer end of the transfer frame is held position the transfer frame 116$. above and a over the table T and feed board B, and is adapted to direct the sheets over said parts to thecylinder C.

The, transfer frame is movable endwise from its operative position over thetable T (Fig. 1) to inoperative position off of the table T-and beneath the table 1" (Fig. 2).

For the purpose of readily adjusting the transfer frame to either position the following devices may be employed:

To the side bars 2 adjacent the casting 2 are attached studs 2 on which are mounted rollers 2 and the outer ends of these studs are connected to links of adjacent endless sprocket chains 4. Each sprocket chain at runs over an idler sprocket 4c journaled on a stud 49 on the adjacent casting 1, and thence over another idler sprocket 4 journaled on a stud 4 attached to the casting 1 thence the chain extends rea'rwardly to and over a drive sprocket 4 mounted on a shaft 4' journaled in the rear castings 1; thence the sprocket chain returns to and over an idler 4 which may also be mounted on stud r beside the sprocket 4, and thence returns to the beginning at sprocket 4. The shaft 4 may be manually operatedby means of a crank arm 4; and may be provided with a ratchet 9 adapted to be engaged by a pawl 1* to prevent casual inward movement of the transfer frame.

If the screws 1 are disengaged from the castings 2} and the shaft 4 properly turned, the outer end of the transfer frame can be lowered until the supporting rollers 2 rest upon the track bars 1, the rear end of the frame and roll 2 then lying beneath the plane of the table 1; then bycontinuing to properly rotate shaft i the transfer frame can be moved bodily rearward and under.

the table 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

To facilitate the movements of the transfer frame the front castings 2 may be-provided with a roll or rollers. 2 which will support the front or inner end of the trans-' its inner or front end with suitable fingers 2 to direct -the sheets to the grippers of the press; and if desired suitable sheet registering devices may be mounted upon the inner end of the transfer frame, but as such devices form no part of the present invention they are not illustrated herein. i

The sheets may be fedfrom the table 1 in the usual manner by means of combing wheels 5 mounted on a shaft 5 journaled in arms 5 attached to a rock shaft 5 journaled in castings 1; shaft 5 having a crank arm 5 carrying a roller 5 adapted to engage a controlling cam 55 on the shaft 3.

' The means for feeding sheets from table maven mentlof'thei sheets on the transfer frame,

but such endless tapes are not essential, nor a feature of the, present invention, nor is the particular' construction of the transfer frame;

hat Iclaim is:

1. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, and automatic sheet feeding devices with adjustable sheet transfer means adapted to be projected from the automatic sheet feeding devices to direct sheets therefrom to the operating mechanism, or to'be retracted out of the way; and means whereby after the transfer means is projected its r'ear'end israised to bring it into. operative relation with the sheet feedingdevices. I

2. 'In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, a'feed table adapted to support sheets to be fed to such mechanism by hand, and automatic sheet feeding devices; with a movable transfer frame adapted to be projected from the automatic sheet feeding devicesto direct sheets from said automatic feeding devices to the operating mechanism, or to be retracted to permit sheets to be fed by hand from said feed table; and means whereby after the frame is projected its rear end is raised to bring it into operative relation with the sheet feeding devices; said rear end being'lowered in order to retract the frame.

3. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, a feed table adapted to support sheets to be fed to such mechanism by hand, and automatic sheet feeding de vices supported upon the rear end of the feed table; with a movable transfer frame adapted to be projected from beneath the automatic sheet feeding devices over the table to direct sheets from the automatic sheet "feeding devices to the operating mechanism, or to be retracted from off the feed table under the automatic sheet feeding devices to permit sheets to be fed by hand from said feed table; and means whereby when the frame is projected its rear end-is raised to bring it into operative relation with the sheet feeding devices.

4. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, and automatic sheet feeding devices adjacent the table; with a movable transfer means adapted to be projected from the automatic sheet feeding devices to direct sheets from said feeding devices to the operating mechanism, or to be retracted out of the way and endless chains and guides 'Whereby the said transfer means may be projected or retracted, and when projected lilt its rear. end will be raised t bring it into operative relation with the sheet feeding means.

5. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, a feed .table adapted to support sheets to be fed to such mechanism by hand, and automatic sheet feeding devices adjacent the table including a drop roll; with a movable transfer frame adapted to be projected from the automatic sheet feeding devices to direct sheets therefrom to the operating mechanism, or to be retracted from off the feed table to permit sheets to be fed by hand from said feed table; and endless chains and guides therefor whereby the said frame may be projected or retracted, and when projected its rear end will be raised to bring it into operative relation with the sheet feeding means.

6. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets and automatic sheet feed ing means adjacent said operating mechanism, and having a drop feed roll; with an adjustable transfer means adapted to be projected from the feed mechanism in position to direct sheets from the feeding devices to the operating means or to be retracted out of the way,'said transfer means including a feed roll adapted to cooperate with the drop roll when the transfer means is in operative position.

7. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets,'a feed table adapted to support sheets to be fed to such mechanism by hand, and an automatic sheet feeding means adjacent the rear end of said table and having a drop feed roll; with an adjustable transfer frame adapted to be projected from beneath the feed mechanism over the table in position to direct sheets from the feeding devices to the operating means, or to be retracted from off the table and beneath the feeding means out of the way; said transfer frame having a feed roll adapted to cooperate with the drop roll when the transfer frame is in operative position.

8. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, a feed table adapted to sup port sheets to be fed to such mechanism by hand, and automatic sheet feeding devices adjacent the rear end of said table, said feeding devices including a drop roll; with a movable transfer frame adapted to be projected from the automatic sheet feeding devices over the feed table to direct sheets from the automatic sheet feeding devices over the feed table to the operating mechanism, or to be retracted from off the feed table to permit sheets to be fed by hand from said feed table; and a feed roll on said transfer frame adapted to be brought into operative relation with the drop roll when the transfer frame is in projected position.

9. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, automatic sheet feeding devices including a drop roll, a movable transfer frame adapted to be projected from the automatic sheet feeding devices to direct sheets to the operating mechanism or to be retracted out of the way, and a feed roll on' said transfer frame; with means whereby after the frame is projected its rear end will be raised to bring the feed roll into operative relation with the drop roll, said rear end being lowered before the frame is retracted.

10. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, a feed table adapted to support sheets to be fed to such mechanism by hand, automatic sheet feeding devices supported upon the said table, and including a drop roll, a movable transfer frame adapted to be projected from the automatic sheet feeding devices over the feed table to direct sheets from the automatic feeding means over the feed table to the operating mechanism or to be retracted from off the feed table to permit sheets to be fed by hand from said feed table, and a feed roll on said transferframe; with means whereby after the frame is projected its rear end will be raised to bring the feed roll into operative relation with the drop roll.

11. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, a feed table adapted to support sheets to be fed to such mechanism by hand, automatic sheet feeding devices ad jacent the said table, saidfeeding devices including a drop roll; a movable transfer frame adapted to be projected from the automatic sheet feeding devices over the feed table to direct sheets from the automatic feeding means over the feed table to the operatlng mechanism or to be retracted from off the feed table to the automatic sheet feeding means, and a feed roll .on said transfer frame adapted to be brought into operative relation with the drop roll when the transfer frame is in projected position; with means whereby the said frame may be projected or retracted and after it is projected its rear end will be raised to bring the feed roll into operative relation with the drop roll.

12. In combination, mechanism for operating upon sheets, a' feed table adapted to support sheets to be fed to such mechanism by hand, automatic sheet feeding devices supported upon the rear end of said table, said feeding devices including a drop roll; a movable transfer frame adapted to be projected from beneath the automatic sheet feeding devices over the feed table to direct sheets from the automatic feeding means over the feed table to the operating mechanism, or to be retracted from off the feed table -to and beneath the automatic sheet feeding means to permit sheets to be fed by hand from'said feed table, and a feed roll on said transfer frame; with endless chains and guides therefor whereby the said frame may be projected or retracted, and after the frame is projected its rear end will be raised to bring the feed roll into operative relation with the drop roll.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I afiix my signature.

BURT F. UPHAM. 

